Ciaran O'Braonain woodworking course?

[memzey]

Hi gang.

The wife is thinking of booking me the four day course with this guy in September for my birthday.

http://www.obraonainwoodworking.co.uk/courses.html

I wondered if anyone had any experience of it? Is the four day course worthwhile for a cack handed newbie like me?

 

[NazNomad]

I'm sure people who have been making ''handcrafted furniture' ' and ''family heirlooms'' for 50 years would still tell you they learn something new now and then.

Not sure how much 4 days would benefit anyone?

Just my $0.02

 

[clk230]

depending on existing skill level and how good the teacher is , alot could be learnt in 4 days just little things like tool holding , stance etc . I'm sure you'll pick up lots of simple but very usefull tips.

 

[thetyreman]

I'd say it can't do any harm

 

[yetloh]

Hi gang.

The wife is thinking of booking me the four day course with this guy in September for my birthday.

http://www.obraonainwoodworking.co.uk/courses.html

I wondered if anyone had any experience of it? Is the four day course worthwhile for a cack handed newbie like me?

Don't know anything about him but I started going on five day courses at West Dean 17 years ago and am still going and still learning new things. I learn less now but in the early years I learnt huge amounts in a few days. Also, don't discount what you learn from other students and the value of the experience itself. Of course, it does depend hugely on the quality of the tutor. If you can't get any relevant feedback it might be worth just talking to him on the phone and maybe ask if you can visit him so that you can at least form some sort of opinion of your own, personal chemistry can be an important factor, Good luck.

Jim

 

[memzey]

I think I will give him a call to assess what he actually teaches during the 5 days. Embarrassingly I fall firmly into the "all the gear, no idea" category as over the last couple of years I've managed to assemble a broad selection of quality used tools from auctions and boot sales. My equipment certainly far exceeds my competence but as bargains came up I thought it best to pounce. So I'm looking for mixed guidance on hand tools and machinery as I am well stocked in both. All that is lacking is skill! I'm on a bit of a journey I suppose and what I want to be able to do is competently and efficiently make straightforward, rectilinear items of furniture for my house, toys for my kids and maybe gifts like boxes and so on for loved ones. I'm probably 8,000 hours of application or so away from having that competence (probably more) but I do know how to maintain my edge tools, plane my stock by hand, cut mortice and tenon joints and sharpen everything. Sharpening, despite the furore it often creates on these boards, is actually the easiest thing I've come across in woodworking. Actually making something you are proud of with your super sharp tools, now that's a different matter entirely.

 

[custard]

Training, even on very short courses, can be the key to leaping up several rungs of the woodworking ladder.


But here's the thing, bespoke furniture making is a financially marginal occupation, consequently there are plenty of makers trying to augment their income by offering training. Some are excellent, some are absolutely dire.

I don't know anything about the guy you linked to, but I do know that you're geographically a lot closer to Peter Sefton who enjoys a sky high reputation among cabinet making professionals both as a trainer and as a maker.

Incidentally, you're not 8,000 hours away from making basic rectilinear furniture. You need about 1,000 hours of disciplined training (either self training or at a school) to go from complete beginner to being able to make something like this, complete with dovetailed drawer,

What many beginning woodworkers don't appreciate is that basic rectilinear furniture (like almost all Shaker style furniture) is completely within the potential orbit of the home woodworker, but only if they knuckle down and acquire the basic skills instead of leaping into endless woodworking rabbit holes. But you've already conquered sharpening, which is possibly the deepest rabbit hole of all, so there's no reason why you can't gallop safely past all the other too!

Good luck!

 

[Mr_P]

• Learn about different types of wood and what to select for projects.
• Develop an understanding of a range of woodworking techniques.
• Gain the confidence to use basic hand tools and woodworking equipment.

At the end of the course, you will take home a handcrafted display stand made from solid American black walnut and ash which you can proudly display in your own home.

Sounds a bit basic, why not try and find a course on box making if thats what floats your boat.

 

[Homerjh]

i have been, as he is local to me, and was excellent and i would highly recommend.

I did the same course but over 10 weeks, and i am now looking at going on his wood turning, but as i can only do weekends am waiting for the dates to be available, as it is friday/saturday currently and work gets in the way.

so as a beginner course he does basic work, so how to saw accurately, how to mark out, mortise/tenon work, finishing and all with hand tools and much more.

Also when i did it he showed how to sharpen tools, explained reasons why (priceless skill and some students brought old chisels and planes in from car boots, work and even hand me downs and within a hour or two were using them 'properly') and the end result was all held together with wedged tenons and the only screws were to fit the table top up.

There is the an intermediate course that goes further as well if you need and as a tutor he is excellent, always open for questions and when anything went wrong for someone he was always able to show them how to fix it, or incorporate as 'a feature'.

There are no power tools used (well a drill and a pillar drill, that was for no more than 5 minutes max) but that isn't unreasonable and the toolbox you use on the course is nothing different than what you probably already own in most.

but one word of warning, you will be knackered afterwards, hand sawing, mortise and tenons all hand cut and hand chiselled, all wood hand planed to get a nice finish, hand sanding, you get my drift, no power sanders, no jigsaws, just good old elbow grease.

But i would call him as you do sound like you have what he will teach in the beginners course, so only he can advise if it is the case.

also check out my post from when i did it.

excellent-woodwork-course-in-cheshire-t96732.html

 

[deema]

Have a look at his work, talk to the guy in the phone and note how easy he is to get along with and how patient he is when explaining answers to your questions. If both get ticks in the box and you've really thought about the skills your missing then any training is good training.

I would not be put off by 8,000 or 1,000 hours of dedicate training. Most of us normally need o be shown how to do something, and the technique, and then to practice until we've mastered it. Some people can pick wood working skills up in hours, others taking a lot longer. Some are very lucky and instinctively know how to plane, saw, etc etc. However, most of us need to be shown the the techniques. The showing takes a few hours, the practice can take 1,000 hours to master them. You learn a lot in 4 day, you will need to practive afterwards to make the course worth while.

 

[memzey]

So I spoke to Ciaran today who comes across as a very decent fellow. Took his time to listen to me and and understand what I'm looking for and suggested I do the intermediate course in October instead. I'll pass that info onto the good lady and hopefully something will come of it. If I do go on the course I'll give it a write up on these boards afterwards.

BTW - I'm not at all put off by the prospect of several thousand hours of practice and application to get to the skill levels I'm aiming for. I have a wife and three daughters so conversely I look forward to and cherish every minute I can get in the shed!!!

 

[Homerjh]

Also worth mentioning plenty of nice places to visit if your better half is coming with you and needs to visit places. Chester, liverpool, frodsam is small and lovely, manchester....